Fluid conductor



2 Sheets-Shut 1 ATTORNEY Jan. 5, 1943. H. s. sMrrH TAL FLUID CONDUCTOR Filed April :5. 1.942

gli?? 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 H. s. SMITH ErAl.

FLUID CONDUCTOR Filed April s. 1942 INVENTOR5 /o/aqca 5. SMH-H lBY NOLA/Y E. /c/mso/v 15W@ #www 94M Fie. 6

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Jan. 5, 1943.

ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 5, 1943 UNITED STATES FLUID CONDUCTOR orace S. Smith and Nolan E. Dickason, Kinsman,

` Ohio, assignors to The Glauber Brass Manufactoring Company, Kinsman, Ohio, a corporation o! Ohio Application April 3,1942, Serial No. 437,580

8 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in ui'd conductors. The invention is intended primarily for use in connecting an auxiliary fuel tank with the permanent fuel tankof a vehicle and embodies means, which may be operable from a relatively remote point, for. separating the members of the union which forms part of the conductor, so that the auxiliary tank may be quickly jettisoned if desired. Also in order that a conductor of this kind may be quickly attached to or detached from a full tank without any loss of fuel we have devised valve means biased to closed position which cut off the ow of fuel from the tank, and preferably also valve means which interrupt the Vpassage of airv in a direction reverse to that of the intended fuel flow, which Valve means isautomatically operated when the members of the union are brought into operative relation to open the valve or valves. During the operation of vehicles such as Army tanks and armored cars the terrain traveled may be extremely rough and the main tank of the vehicle may assume various angles instead of its natural and intended position. A conductor attached to the main tank may then tend to ll up with fuel, f producing ilow'in the reverseV direction. Therefore in 'accordance with one phase of our invention we provide float means at the juncture between `the main tank and the conductor for closing off that end of the conductor when fuel in fthe tank would tend to wash`up and into the conductor. l

An object of the invention is the provision of apparatus for carrying out the above purposes.

Other objects and features of novelty will appear as we proceed with the description of those embodiments of the invention which, for the purposes ofthe present application, We have illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. l is an elevational view, largely in section, showing fragments of a permanent tank and an auxiliary tank connected together by-our improved fiuid conductor.

Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal sectional view on a larger scale of a union forming part of the conductor and showing the valve means opened for transmitting liquid in one direction and air in the opposite direction.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view. of a valve piece which may bei employed in connection with the air return.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of a modified form of connection between the main fuel tank and the conductor.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view of a modified 55 form of union placed at the main tank rather than at the auxiliary tank.

Fig. 6 is a fragmental view on a largeriscale corresponding to a portion of the valve mechanism shown in Fig. 5, and

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view showing another modification of the junction 'between the main tank and the conductor.

Referring to Figs. l, 2 and 3 of the drawings, a fragment of a permanent fuel tank of a vehicle is illustrated at I0. It is provided with an upstanding neck II that is externally threaded to take first the hub I2 of a spider I3 which supports at its periphery an armored cover I4. The threaded union receives secondly a cap or the like I5 with a gasket I6 interposed to seal this opening in the tank.

A tubular angle arm I1 is oscillatably mounted in a bore in the center of the cap I I, being locked against movement axially by a split ring` I8 which takes into an annular groove in the arm and is contacted on its upper side by packing I9 held in place by a gland nut 20 that is threaded into a counterbore of the cap.

The horizontal portion of the arm I1 extends outwardly through a cutout 2| in the cover I4, and its free end receives one extremity of a hose 22 which forms part of a liquid conductor and which is formed preferably of self-sealing rubber, so that if punctured by a bullet no liquid will escape. 23 represents a fragment of an auxiliary tank which is also'formed partially of self-sealing rubber, for a similar purpose. In one end or one side of the auxiliary tank there is a discharge opening 24. To the tank surrounding this opening-there is welded a ring 25 which is threaded internally to receive one of the principal members 26 of a union, on which there is a shoulder 21 that engages ring 25 through the intermediacy of a gasket 28. The other principal member 29 of the union has a cylindrical portion 30 which slides over a cylindrical portion 3I of member 26. The cylindrical portion 30 has a series of openings 32 therethrough which are slightly conical and in which are mounted steel balls 33, the openings 32 having an inner diameter slight'- ly less than the diameter of the balls, thereby preventing them from moving radially inward out of `the openings 32. When the parts are inl normal connected relation, as illustrated in Fig. 2, balls 33 extend into an annular groove 34 in the cylindrical part 3| o f member 26. Balls 33 are normally held against movement outwardly by a sleeve `35 which fits slidably upon a cylindrical surface of member 29 and is held normally in operative position over the balls 33 by means of aI coil spring 36, its'movement in lresponse to spring 36 being limited by a. stop ring 31 threaded onto member 29. The sleeve 35 is provided with one lor more perforated ears 36, to one at least -of which there is attached a cable 36 by means of which an operator may exert a pull in opposition to spring 36 for causing an internal groove v46 to move into registration with the openings 32, whereupon the balls 33 are free to move outwardly far enough to clear the groove 34. A continued pull, working through spring 36, may be communicated to member 29, causing balls 33 to be cammed outwardly and sliding the member 29 oif the member 26. The outer end of member 29 is threaded internally to -receive a. fitting 6 `with a nipple 9 over which the hose 22 is mountgasket 4l which is held between an internal` shouldered socket in member 29 and a ring 42 threaded into place against. the gasket.` The radially inner edge of the latter contacts and bears against the tapered outer surface of a constricted part 43 of member 26.

In'each of the members 26 and 29 we provide valve means which are so constructed that they close off the liquid passage in each member automaticalbvv when the two members are separated and open each of these passages when the members are brought together and locked in operative relation. While we consider it highly desirable that both of the union members have automatically operative valves of this character, it will be appreciated that such a valve in one member only may be employed if desired without departing from the spirit of the invention. A spider'44 is threaded into. the outer end of member 26. -.li cylindrical projection 45 on the hub of the spider extends inwardly for a distance, and this extension, as well as the spider hub, are bored out to receive a cylindrical slide 46 upon the threadedA inner extremity of which is mounted a valve piece 41. This valve piece is adapted to seat against an annular gasket 46 which is held by a theraded ring 46 against a flat surface of member 26, the valve piece being biased toward closed position by a coil spring 66 which bears at one end against the hub of `spider 44 and at the other end against the rear side of valve piece 41. It will be observed that when the valve piece 41 is oif its seat liquid is free to pass through the openings in spider 44, through the `space around the spring 56, around the periphery of valve piece 41, through the central opening in gasket 46 and through a bore l in the constricted part. 43 of member 26.

outwardly of gasket 4| member 29 has a wall 52 which extends radially inward but has a central opening 53 of the same size as the bore 5I of member 26. On the outer side of this wall there is an annular gasket 54 held in place by a threaded ring 55, the hole through this gasket being flush with the opening 53. Gasket 64 forms a seat for a valve piece 56 which has a neck 51 that is threaded onto one end of a cylindrical slide 56 that is mounted within a guiding bore in a hub portion 56 of thetting 6. The valve piece 56 is biased toward closed position by a coil spring 66 which bears at one l end against the stang s and at the other end against the valve piece 56. The degree to which the valve may be opened is limited by the engagement of the neck 51 with the inner end of hub 56.

The valve piece 41 is provided with an inwardly extending nose 62 which-projects through the gasket 46 into the bore 5l. Valve piece 56 has a similar nose 63 which extends through its seat and engages the nose 62 when the members -of the union are assembled in operative relation. An annular gasket 64 may be carried on the extremityof nose 63 to seal the joint between the two noses. .Before the two members of the union are brought together springs 56 and 66 will hold both liquid valves closed against their seats. When the members are assembled in operative relation, however, these two noses engage each other and both valves are unseated. The spring v56 is stronger than the spring 66, however, so that the valve piece 41 rests against its.

seat until the valve piece 56 reaches its limit of movement, after which the valve piece 41 is shifted away from its closed position. Conversely, when the union is broken the valve piece 41 is the first to be seated. When a liquid valve lis not required inone 'of the union members, as i'or example in member 26, the'nose 63 may be made rigid. When members 26, 26 are brought together the movable nose 62 will then be pushed back by the xed nose 6 3, unseating valve piece 41.

In order that air may be discharge from the top of tank I6 at the same time that liquid flows into the tank, we provide a conductor for air or other gas, locating it within the conductor 22 and the two members of the union 26, 26. 'I'his conductor comprises axial passages 65 and66 through the slides 46 and 66, respectively, through the hollow nose pieces 62 and 63 of the liquid valves and through flexible, small diameter tubes 61 and 66 which are mounted on the reduced out'- er extremities of the slides 46 and 56. 'I'hese tubes, like the h ose 22, are preferably formed of artificial'rubber which resists-chemical action by the usual motor fuels better than natural rubber. y

0n the inner wall surfaces at the ends of the 'f two hollow noses 62 and 63 there are annular gaskets 66 and 16 which surroundcircular axial holes in the ends of. the noses through which air or other gas may pass in traveling from one union member to the other. These circular holes are filled only partially by fiat projections 1I on two identical valve pieces 12 (Fig. 3) which have disk shaped portions 13 that are adapted to seat against the gaskets -69 or 16 as the case may be.

Coil springs 14 and 15 tend to force the valve pieces 12 against their seats, but yield to unseat the valve pieces when the two flat projections 1I engage each other at the time the union members are assembled together. The springs 14 and 15 are weak, as compared with the springs 56 and 66, and consequently the fluid conductors remain connected until after both 'liquid valves close. It will be understood also that one of the fluid valves may be eliminated, the extension 1I in that case engaging a nxed part of the nose of the other member when the two members are brought together into operative relation.

The end of iluid'conductor 61 which' is remote from the union 26, 26 is supported in the .tank 23 above the liquid level thereof, as indicated at 16. The outer end of conductor 66 ls attached to a small metal elbow 11 to which a short length of similartubing 16 is connected.

275 The lower end of the latter is mounted upon the which is guided within a oat mounting 80 preferably formed integral with lthe Vcap |5. The A shutter 19 is adapted when raised to close the lower end of the hollow` conductor arm- |1. At-

the bottom of the mounting 80 there are two spaced wire mesh flame arrestors 8|. Above the 1 latter afloat 82 carries a light weight post 83 with a conical upper end adapted to close the opening through the tubular upper end of shutter 19. Thus as liquid rises in the tank land tends to fill the space within the neck and to flow into the conductor joining the two tanks, as it l.might do for example when the vehicle was traveling .on a heavy down grade, the lifting of float 82 will act rst to cause post 83 to close the fluid passage and thereafter to causeshutter 19 -to close the liquid passage.

We also maintain pressure conditions within the tank I0 between predetermined limits by mounting in the cap two reversely operating ball check valves 84 and 85, valve 84 opening to relieve excess pressure and valve 85 opening to admit atmospheric air in the event that vacuum conditions are encountered within. the tank.

The construction and operation of these valves will be apparent from an inspection of Fig. 1 of the drawings, it being notedv that the two constructions have identical parts, thereby reducing costs.

Assuming that the tank 23 is filled with fuel and that the member 26 of the union is fixed in the tank as herein illustrated, the valve 41, 48 being closed, and assuming that it is desired to connect the tank 23 with the tank I0, the. latter hav- '1 ing concentric liquid and fluid' conductors connected thereto in the manner illustrated, the operator brings the union member 29 into juxtaposition with themember 26 and pulls back the sleeve 35, either directly or through the cable 39,

thereby bringing the groove 40 into registry with the openings 32. He then slides the member 29 over the member 26 until one or more of the balls 33 enter the groove 34. The operator then releases the sleeve 35 which advances by vreason of the action of spring 36, and forces the remaining balls 33 into the groove 34, thereby locking the two members 26 and 29 together. This assembly of the two members causes the gasket 4| to be flexed to seal the joint between the members. During this assembly of the members 26, 29 the first effect is that the projections 1| of valves 12 engage each other to' open the fluid valves and set up a continuous fluid passage. Then the n'oses 62 and 63 engage each other and the valve 56 is unseated until the neck 51 engages the hub 59, after which further pressure exerted by the operator compresses spring 50 and opens valve 41. Shortly thereafter the members of the union are locked together as previously described. When the union is to be broken a pull may be exerted upon the cable 39 from a more or less remote point. This brings groove 40 into registry with balls 33, whereupon spring causes nose 62 to push against nose 63 effecting some movement of separation between the members 26 I and 29. 'I'he valve 41 is then closed and the exit for liquid from tank 23 is cut off. Then the spring 60 causes nose 63 to push against nose 62, eil'ecting further separation of the union members.- Thereafter the member 29 will fall away from member 26 by its own weight or by a slight additional pull on cable 39, and when this occurs the two uid valves 12 will close.

Fig. 4 shows a simplified form of connection atv 7l the main tank end of the conductors, that is with the float controlled shutter and air valve'omitted.

In this construction we depend entirely upon the liquid. and air valves in the union member 29 for 'cutting oil' the discharge of liquidI from the Fig. 7 shows a modified form of float control at the main tank end of the apparatus. In this modification the neck of the tank is closed by a threaded cap provided witha gasket 9 I, thel cap having therein a pressure exhausting check valve 92, similar in function to the ball valve 84 previously described. A hollow arm 93 forming a portionof the liquid conductor is mounted in a central bore of cap 90 to swing about a vertical axis, being held against withdrawal by a split ring 94, and the swing joint being sealed by packing 95 held in place by a gland nut 96. A cylindrical iioat mounting 91 depends from the lower end of arm 93, being attached preferably by a threaded connection as shown. A small metal elbow 93 has one end mounted in a perforation in the side of the mounting while its upwardly extending end receives the lower extremity of a flexible lluid conductor 99. There are also ports |00 through the side walls of the mounting. A float |0| hangs from the mounting 91 and is capable of rising from the illustrated position under the buoyant effect of liquid in the tank, causing an inner Vcylindrical wall |02 to close off the ports |00 and thereafter the passage through the elbow 98.

In Figs. 5 and 6. there is illustrated a modification of our union designed for mounting at the main tank rather than at the auxiliary tank, in which case of course the hose connections for liquid and air would remain with the auxiliary tank. In this modication the union is assembled upon a cap |05 which may be threaded onto the neck of the tank I0. The fixed member of the union has a small diameter part |06 which is threaded into the cap |05 and projects downwardly into the tank. The larger diameter portion |01 rests upon the top of the cap. A gasket f |08 is providedfor sealing the joint between the tank and cap and between the cap and the small diameter portion |06I of the fixed member.

On the upper side of the cap there is mounted a plate |09 which is provided with an upstanding arm ||0 on which there isa cable guide cable |2 extends under this guide and is attached at ||3 to a sleeve ||4 which is urged upwardly by springs |5 against a stop consisting of a flange ||6 at the upper end of member |01. This sleeve ||4 has a groove ||1, similar to the groove 40, for registration with openings of member |01,

vwherein balls I8 are mounted. The balls norjoint between the two members of the union is.

sealed by an annular gasket |2| carried by member |01 and bearing against a tapered surface on a small diameter end portion |22 of member |20, these parts being similar to the corresponding parts 4| and 43 ofthe rst described form of the invention.

A seat for the liquid valve in the member |05, `|01 is provided by an annular gasket |23 held in place by a threadedv ring |24. Cooperating with this seat there is a disk valve |25 carried by a hollow valve stem |26 upon which there is a collar |21 which is adapted to engage the upper end of a slide guide |28 and limit the downward movement of the valve and its stem. A coil spring 29 tends to lift the valve and press it against the seat |23. The guide |28 is integral with a perforated plate |30 which is threaded into the lower end of the small diameter part I Il of the xed member of the union.

The upper end of member is threaded to receivean elbow |3| which carries a nipple |32 that is adapted to receive a flexible hose l|33 like the hose 22 of the first described form and constituting a liquid conductor. gas conductor |34 is carried within the hose |33 and elbow |3| and consists preferably of a synthetic rubber tube like the tube 61, 60 of the ilrst form of the invention. This 'tube is connected with a. small tubular metal slide |35 carried by a cylindrical guide |36 integral with a perforated plate |31 that is threaded into member |20.V

.0n the lower threaded end of slide |35 there is mounted a disk valve |38 which is adapted to' seat against an annular gasket |39 held in place iconsequently valve |38 will close rst. It will open last when the union members are assembled.

When the two members |20 and |06, |01 are assembled together air may flow in either direction between' the tank and tube |34, through the hollow stem |26 and tubular slide |35. Preferably we provide fluid valves in each of the two members for cutting on -fluid flow. 'I'hese valves function like the valves 12 of the irst described form of the invention, but as herein illustrated they differ somewhat in detail construction. As they are identical one only is illustrated. The liquid valves and |38 have hollow nose pieces |42 and |43 which project through their 'respective seats |23 and |39 and meet to unseat the valves. The meeting ends of these nose pieces are toed in, as shown at |44 in Fig. 6, whereby a conical seat is provided for each ball |45. Each of the latter is urged towards its seat by a coil spring |46 that surrounds and is guided by a thin walled tubular extension |41 of the slide |35. Slots |48 are cut through the extension |41.

When the two members |20 and |06, |01 are brought into operative relation the two balls |45 contact each other and open against the force of their springs |46, and air is free to ilow through the uid conductors but when the members are separated these ball valves immediately close in the same manner as in the case of the correspondingvalves of the first described form of the invention.

Having thus described our invention, we claim: 1. In apparatus of the character described, a

union comprising two connector members meeting endwise, a valve in one of said members, a flexible hose upon which the second member is mounted, means for locking the union members in operative position comprising a sleeve slidablel 'An air or other,

ing endwise, one of said members being arranged for mounting in a tankfa flexible hose upon which the second member is mounted, a valve in each of said members, means for locking said members in connected relation Acomprising a' sleeve 'slidable upon said second member, spring by the second member and operablevfrom a remote point for moving said sleeve to release said locking means thereby permitting said spring means acting through said valves to separate I said members and close the respective valves.

3. In apparatus of the character described, a union comprising two connector members meeting endwise, said members each having a liquid passage and a concentric gas passage, one of said members having valve means adapted to close the liquid passage and valve means adapted to close the gas passage, both of said valves being biased toward closing position, means for opening both of said valves when the members of the union are brought into operative relation, and means for locking the union members in operative relation.

4. In apparatus of the character described, a union comprising two connector members meeting endwise, said members each having a liquid Apassage and a concentric gas passage, one of said members having valve means adapted to close the liquid passage and valve means adapted to close the gas passage, both of said valves being biased toward closing position, means for opening both of said valves when the members of the union are brought into operative. relation, means for locking the unionmembers in operative relation, and means operable from a remote point for releasing said locking means thereby permitting said members to separate and said valves to close.

5. In apparatus of the character described, a union comprising two connector members meeting endwise, said members each having a liquid passage, a valve in one member biased to close said liquid passage, each of said members 'having a iluid conductor located concentrically within its liquid passage, the valve piece of said liquid valve constituting a portion of the fluid conductor of one member, the valve piece of-said liquid valve having a nose projecting through its valve seat, and a fluid valve in said nose comprising a valve piece projecting through and beyond said nose, and means comprising the uid conductor of the other member adapted when the two members are brought together into operative relation to unseat first the said fluid valve piece and thereafter the said liquid' valve piece.

6. In apparatus of the character described, a union comprising two connector members meeting endwise, a valve in each of said members, means for locking said members together in connected relation, and a spring in each of said` members tending to close the valve of that member, said valves comprising portions which interengage to unseat the valves when the members of the union are brought together in operative relation, the spring of one of said members being stronger than the spring of the other member, and an abutment to limit the extent to which the valve of the latter member may be opened.

'1. In apparatus of the character described, a union 'comprising two connector members meeting endwise,'each of said members having a liquid passage, a valve in' each member biased t0 close its liquid passage, each of said members' having a uid conductor located concentrically within its liquid passage, the valve pieces of each of said liquid valves constituting a portion of the uid conductor of the corresponding member, the valve piece of each of said liquid valves having a nose projecting through its valve seat, and a uid valve in each of said noses comprising a valve piece projecting through and beyond the nose, the valves being so arranged that when the two members are brought together into operative relation the valve pieces of the fluid valves engage each other, opening those valves, after ing the liquid valves.

8. In apparatus of the class described, a disconnectable union for the bottom of a liquid tank, one member of said union being arranged for mounting in thetank, an annular valve seat in said member, a hollow valve stem, an annular valve piece carried thereby, spring means tending to close said valve, said stem projecting through said annular seat and having an annular valve seat in its nose, and a valve piece in said hollow stem biased toward engagement with said last named seat and having a projection extending therethrough, whereby both of said valves may be opened by pressure directed toward the nose of said valve stem.

HORACE S. SMITH. NOLAN DICKASON.

DISCLAIMER 2,307,427.-Horace S'. Smith and Nolan E. Diokason, Kinsman, Ohio. FLUiD CON- DUCTOR. Patent dated Jan. 5, 1943. Disclaimer led Feb.. 16, 1945, by

the assignee, L. W. /'izay Corporation. Hereby enters this disclaimer to claims 3, 4, and 6 of said patent.

[Oficial Gazette March 27, 1.945.] 

